1 post tagged “vestmannaeyjar”
By Brian
Vestmannaeyjar Islands are off the southwest coast of Iceland. We visited the largest and only inhabited island - Heimaey. The island is famous for the 1973 volcano which erupted just outside of town, covering nearly 1/3 of the village in lava, expanding the island's landmass by nearly 1/3, and almost cutting off one of Iceland's largest harbors.
We took a 30 minute flight from Reykjavik's small domestic airport. Upon arrival we had no idea exactly how we were going to get from the airport to the harbor to schedule the boat tour we wanted to take. We asked what appeard to be a tour guide if there are taxis we could take. She said yes but if we wanted she could take us in her tour bus. Got to love Icelandic hospitality!
Cool street signs in Heimaey
The boat tour took us around the entire island of Heimaey, stopping in a few sea caves. We even had a saxiphone playing sea captain.
View looking back at the Heimaey Harbor
Boat captain playing in an acoustic cave
After the boat tour we had lunch and took a taxi in our search of Puffins. The rather expensive taxi ride took us from one end of the island to the other - maybe 3km and $20. We found a little shelter set up for Puffin viewing but only saw a few Puffins rather far away. Being smallish birds we really didn't get any good photos this time. On the steep grassy cliffs where the Puffins live, in ground nests, were a small flock of sheep grazzing.
After Puffin viewing we walked around the lava flows from the volcanos and wrapped up our trip with a stroll through the Iceland Independance Day (or National Day) festival. Iceland gained its independance from Denmark on June 17, 1944.
We have seen this plant blooming all over Iceland
The sign behind Noosha signifies the former location of a home covered by lava
Abstract polar bear (we think) statue in a park where the Independence Day festivities were held.
We claim this playground Viking ship in the name of Iceland!
The best Icelandic beer Brian has tasted.
